Coastal repeats as SBC champ, awaits NCAA foe

The Coastal Carolina volleyball team defeated #2 Texas State in four sets Sunday afternoon to win its second consecutive Sun Belt Volleyball Championship, and fourth conference championship in as many years. The championship victory also ensures that Coastal will be making its fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

Coastal enters the NCAA postseason with a 20-7 record, its fourth straight 20-plus win season and 12th such season in program history. The Chanticleers will find out their first round opponent and match location on Nov. 26 during the NCAA Volleyball Selection Show, which airs at 9 p.m. on ESPNU. Texas State, the Sun Belt West Division champion, closes the tournament at 24-9.

The first three sets were all decided by two-point margins, 25-23, with Coastal winning the first and third games, and Texas State claiming the second. The Chants finished off the match with a double figure, 25-15 victory in the fourth.

Leah Hardeman, who had a 21 kill, 16 dig double-double in the victory, was named the Sun Belt Championship Most Outstanding Player for the second consecutive year. The senior outside hitter also finished the match with a .354 hitting percentage and three blocks.

Joining Hardeman on the Sun Belt All-Tournament Team were junior defensive specialist Sydney Alvis, and freshman outside hitter Kyla Manning. Manning put down a career-best 19 kills while hitting .286, and tied for second on the team in blocks with four. For the second consecutive match during the tournament, Alvis led all players in digs with 27.